Officers from the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) visited jailed asylum seekers on Manus yesterday (Thursday, 4 February) looking for asylum seekers to agree to voluntarily return to their home countries.
IOM was the manager of the Manus Island detention centre under the Howard government. IOM have no protection mandate but are a mercenary outfit paid by the Australian government to arrange returns of asylum seekers. IOM contracts have sometimes included bounties paid for each asylum seeker returned.
The asylum seekers have been held in appalling conditions in the Lorengau jail since being shanghaied by Wilson security guards during the Manus mass hunger strike.
“To take advantage of asylum seekers who have been cruelly abused and are now unlawfully held in jail; is just despicable,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Many of those in jail have also been denied urgently needed medical assistance. Lorengau hospital is refusing to provide treatment saying that asylum seekers should be looked after by IHMS. Some of those in jail are also refugees entitled to international protection.
“It says everything about the priorities of the Immigration Department and the PNG government, that IOM gets access to the jail, but there are no lawyers, nor medical assistance.
“There is an urgent need for the asylum seekers to get medical attention. There is an urgent need for human rights observers on Manus Island – at the detention centre and in the jail. IOM and the Immigration Department are systematically violating the rights of asylum seekers.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713